Printer&#39;s chases



Aug. 22, 1961 w. F. GOLDING PRINTERS CHASES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 4, 1958 FIG. I

Aug. 196 w. F. GOLDING PRINTERS CHASES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 4, 1958 .lllvllll-l-llll FIG.3

Aug.

Filed Feb. 4, 1958 W. F. GOLDING PRINTERS CHASES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 22, 1961 2,996,984 PRINTERS CHASES William Frank Golding, 22 Parrys Close, Stoke Bishop, Bristol 9, England Filed Feb. 4, 1958, Ser. No. 713,215 Claims priority, application Great Britain Feb. 5, 1957 9 Claims. (Cl. 101-391) This invention relates to chases of the kind for use with an inverted, i.e. downwardly facing forme, the chase comprising an open frame in which the forme is supported by wedges or like pressure means between the periphery of the forme and the inside of the frame, the chase itself being supportable on a platen of a platen press. Such a chase is hereinafter referred to as a chase of the kind specified."

In a chase of the kind specified the medial part of the forme is unsupported and tends to sag away from the platen. Every time the forme is subject to platen pressure it is of course straightened out, i.e. pressed fiat against the platen, and the resulting alternate sagging and straightening of the forme is a source of damage hereto. Also, said sagging can be sufiicient to prevent the insertion and withdrawal of the chase and forme assembly into the press where for reasons intrinsic to the construction of the press no substantial clearance can be provided for such insertion and withdrawal. A particular difliculty presents itself in the case of multipiece cutting or creasing formes where cutting or creasing blades are held in position between wooden spacing pieces solely by the wedge or like pressure, and where said sagging may lead to the collapse of the forme. 'I hese difiiculties have in the past placed a limitation on the size of the forme and thus a limitation on production.

The main object of this invention is to provide means for overcoming these diflicu'lties.

It is also an object of this invention to provide said means in a manner giving freedom of access to the back, i.e. the upper aspect, of the forme after the chase has been removed from the platen as for purposes of make-ready.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description.

According to this invention I provide a chase of the kind specified, characterized in that the frame provided across and at the back of the forme space with a member to which a forme is securable at a position intermediate between the sides of the frame.

Embodiments of this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of a platen, chase and forme assembly of a cutting and creasing press.

FIG. 2 is a section on the line IIII in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the chase shown in relation to the side frames of the press.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a chase and forme assembly embodying a modification.

FIG. 5 is a section on the line V-V in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a modified detail of the chase shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a section on the line VII-VII in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown a platen 1 supported between side frames, 35, 36 of the press. The platen 1 has secured to the underside thereof a chase 2 containing a cutting forme 3 intended to act on sheets of cardboard (not shown) fed into position below the platen 1 and pressed upwardly against the forme 3 by a lower platen (not shown). The direction of feed of the sheets is indicated by the arrow 4. The

chase 2 comprises a rectangular frame 5 comprising two long side members 6 and two short side members 7, 8.

The member 7 extends above the level of the members 6, 6, 8 and comprises a bevel 10. The member 8 comprises a bevel Id. The bottomv of the platen 1 is constructed to receive and locate in position the chase 2 when the latter is pushed into engagement with the platen 1 by movement in the direction of the arrow 13. Bevels 15, 16 on the platen 1 co-operate with the bevels 1G, 11, respectively, of the chase 2 for the latter to be pressed upwardly against the platen 1.

Levers 22 abutting the member 7 are secured to a shaft 23 mounted in bearings 24 on the platen 1 and having further secured thereto levers 25 to which is pivoted the bottom end of rod 26 the upper end portion of which is screw-threaded and engaged by a nut 27 supported for rotation but against axial movement in a sleeve 28 supported by trunnions 29 in bearings 30 secured to the side frame 35. The nut 27 is provided with a hand wheel 31 rotation of which in one direction causes the levers 22 to be pressed against the chase 2 thereby to bring about the cooperation of the bevels 15, '16 and 10, 1-1 as aforesaid. Adjacent the members 6 of the chase 5 there are mounted on the platen 1 a plurality of track wheels 32 so positioned that, when the levers 22 are withdrawn from the chase 5 by appropriate rotation of the hand wheel 31, the chase 5 lowers gravitationally onto the wheels 32 and may readily be withdrawn from the platen 1 by being gripped at handles 33 and pulled from the press through an opening 34 in the side frames 35.

The forme 3 comprises a steel backing sheet 18 and wooden members 19 supporting between them cutting blades 20. The forme 3 is held in the chase 2 by wedges between the inside of the frame 5 and the periphery of the assembly of the members =19 and blades 20. Said wedges are more particularly described with reference to FIG. 4 later hereinbelow.

In order to support the medial part of the forme 3 against sagging, the chase 2 is provided with bars 9 to which the members 19 of the forme 3 are secured by screws 21. To accommodate the bars 9, the platen 1 is provided with grooves or recesses 14. The bars 9 may be supported against downward deflection under the weight of the forme 3 by bevels 12 on the bars 9 en gaging co-operating bevels 17 in the recesses 14 when the chase 2 is positioned on the platen as described hereinabove.

The inside of the frame 5 defines the forme space, the upper surface of the backing steel 18 defines the back of the forme space. The bars 9 define members extending across and at the back of the forme space, to which the forme 3 is securable. The particularly advantageous manner in which the connection between the forme 3 and the bars 9 is acting is described in detail hereafter with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 wherein like parts are given like reference numerals.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown a chase 2 comprising a rectangular frame 5 defined by two long members 6 and two short members 7, 8 the chase 2 further comprising two bars 9 extending parallel to the members 6 in positions intermediate therebetween.

The chase 2 is shown as containing a multipiece cutting forme 3 comprising a metal backing sheet 18 on one side of which there are disposed wooden members 19 supporting cutting blades 20 between them. FIG. 4 shows only a few of the members 19 and blades 20 actually used. The forme 3 is held in the frame 5 by wedges 40 and is secured to the bars 9 by screws 21. Further, some of the wooden members 19 are secured to the sheet 18 by screws 41. The sheet 18 is seated at its edge portions in a recess 42 of the frame 5.

Each bar 9 is provided with extensions or end blocks 43 pivoted to the adjacent members 7, 8 by pins 44 so ofi-set from the bar 9 that the latter can be pivoted into a position clear of the sheet 18 as shown at 9a.

In use, when the forme 3 has to be assembled in the first instance, the chase is placed on a composing table, the bars 9 are raised to permit the placing into position of the sheet 18. Then, after the bars 9 have been pivoted back, the chase 2 is turned over and the blades 20 and wooden pieces 19 are built up in the forme space. After tightening of the wedges 40, the chase is turned back into its normal position with the blades facing the table, and the screws 21, 41 are inserted. The chase and forme assembly is then ready for being placed into the platen 1. When it is required to makeready on the back of the sheet 18, the chase 2 is withdrawn from the platen 1. In the withdrawn position the chase Z is then usually supported by brackets (not shown) provided on the press frame and engaging the members 6 of the chase 2, i.e. the forme 3 itself is not supported from underneath. If it is necessary to makeready under the bars 9, the latter are easily raised for this purpose after the screws 21 have been removed. But since the forme 3 would have no support from underneath, only one bar 9 at a time should be dealt with in this way so as to retain the support of the forme 3 by the other bar 9. However, the support afiorded by the screws 41 is not lost when any of the screws 21 are removed so that additional safety is provided in this way.

The blocks 43 are positioned so as to lie close to the adjacent members 7, 8 of the frame 5. As a result the blocks 43 inhibit the deflection of the chase 2 under the pressure of the wedges 40, i.e. the bars 9 act as tension members. Since the members 7, 8 of the chase cannot bend outwardly under wedge pressure because of the presence of the blocks 43, there is also provided a. certain degree of rigidity in the members 6 so that deflection thereof under wedge pressure is reduced In this way dislocation of the forme 3 when the wedges 40 are tightened or released is materially reduced.

Sometimes the wedges 40 have to be released after the forme 3 has been assembled, for example when repair or adjustment of the forme has to be carried out. Under these conditions the material absence of forme dislocation prevents strain on the screws 21, 41, or if these screws have to be taken out, there is little or no loss of register of the screw holes.

Good results both as regards holding the members 19 and blades 20 in position and as regards deflection of the frame have been obtained by making the dis tance between the two bars 9 substantially equal to the distance between each bar 9 and the adjacent member 6. In one experiment, a forme 3 with about 100 members 19 having a thickness of: 19 mm. was mounted in a chase 2 measuring 48 inches x 36 inches inside the frame 5. In the absence of the screws 21, the forme sagged by /5 inch and slight hand pressure on the back of the forme was sutficient to cause the wooden members 19 to fall out of the frame 5. By insertion of only one screw 21 in each bar 9 medially between the ends thereof, the forme 3 became as firm as necessary and sagging was for practical purposes niL These good results may be explained by the fact that those of the members 19 which are held by the screws 21 or 41 can be considered as being integral with the chase so that there occur a plurality of friction faces for the pressure of the wedges in a manner analagous to a multi-plate clutch.

A mounting for the blocks 43 which has been found to be very satisfactory is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrating the mounting of one of the blocks 43. The frame member 8 here illustrated is provided with a slot 45 receiving the block 43 with a slight clearance. A pivot pin 44 for the block 43 extends through the material of the member 7 at both sides of the slot 45, whereby the pin 44 is securely mounted. A screw 46 is provided for securing the ends of the bar 9' to the frame 5 to prevent accidental pivoting of the bar 9. The other blocks 43 are mounted in a similar manner in slots, and this manner of mounting adds further stability to the frame 5.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a press having a chase comprising a frame with two pairs of opposite side members providing space for a forme, a forme for said frame, a bar connected to the frame and positioned thereon to extend between one pair of such opposite side members of the frame across the forme space and above the back of the forme, the forme being securable to the bar at a position intermediate between said side members and the bar thereby defining a means for supporting the forme from a position thereabove against bowing downwards from the associated platen, the platen being provided with a recess dimensioned to accommodate the bar, the underside of the bar and the unrecessed remainder of the platen thereby forming a continuous pressure surface relative to the forme, guide means dimensioned to support and guide the chase for withdrawal from the platen in a substantially horizontal direction, said bar and recess extending in a direction parallel to the direction of said guide means, the bar passing along the recess when the chase is being withdrawn, an extension provided at each end of the bar and pivotally connected to the adjacent one of the side members, the pivotal connections being positioned to have a common pivotal axis extending parallel to the bar and in a position towards one side thereof, whereby, when the chase is in a position removed from the platen, the bar may be pivotally raised from the frame to provide access to the back of the forme.

2. A chase according to claim 1 wherein said extensions are positioned to engage the frame with said side members being situated between said extensions at least in the proximity around said pivotal connection, the extensions thereby defining a means for preventing relative movement of the chase and the bar in the direction of the length of the bar both when bar is pivotally lowered onto the frame and pivotally raised therefrom.

3. In a press for working on sheet material having an upper platen, a chase releasably connected to the platen, a forme supported in the chase and a bar connected to the chase and extending across the back of the forme, the forme being releasably secured to the bar and the bar defining a means for supporting the forme against bowing away from the platen, the connection between the bar and the chase including hinge means cooperating to support the bar for being raised from the back of the forme.

4. In a press for working on sheet material, including a platen defining a down-facing pressure surface, a chase removably supported in an operative position at said pressure surface, the chase being defined by a frame including two opposite frame members, a forme situated in the frame and peripherally supported by the frame, a bar connected at its ends to the respective frame members and positioned to extend across the forme at the back thereof, the forme being releasably connected to the bar and the bar defining means for supporting the forme against bowing away from said pressure surface, a recess provided in said pressure surface and dimensioned to accommodate the bar, the underside of the bar and the unrecessed remainder of the pressure surface, thereby defining a continuous pressure surface for the forme, the connection between the bar and said frame members including hinge means cooperating to support the bar for being pivotally raised from the back of the forme.

5. The structure as defined in claim 4, said hinge means comprising an extension provided at each end of the bar in a position transversely thereto, a pivot pin connected between the end of the extension remote from the bar and the adjacent frame member, the pins at the respective ends of the bar being positioned on a common axis, the distance between the bar and said axis being such that when the bar is pivoted about said axis the bar rises into a position clear of the back of the forme.

6. The structure as defined in claim 5, said bar being positioned to extend above the plane of said frame members, said extensions being connected to the underside of the bar and being positioned to lie below the upper surfaces of the members.

7. The structure as defined in claim 6, each said frame member comprising a slot dimensioned to accommodate the adjacent one of said extensions.

8. A structure as defined in claim 4, including means for connecting the bar to the platen at a position intermediate between the ends of the bar.

9. A structure as defined in claim 4, comprising guide means cooperating to support the chase for movement into and from the operative position in a direction parallel to said bar, an undercut portion being provided on the bar in a position intermediate between the ends thereof, a corresponding oppositely undercut portion being provided on the platen in a position to engage the undercut portion of the bar when the chase is moved into the operative position, and said undercut portions cooperating to support the bar on the platen against bowing away therefrom when the chase is in the operative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 360,674 Fiske Apr. 5, 1887 895,000 Bright Aug. 4, 1908 1,189,073 Driver June 27, 1916 1,282,922 Novotny Oct. 29, 1918 1,394,714 Culshaw Oct. 25, 1921 1,635,964 Shinnick July 12, 1927 1,961,797 Smith June 5, 1934 1,964,957 Marcy July 3, 1934 1,976,577 Piazza Oct. 9, 1934 1,987,370 Pleger Ian. 8, 1935 2,798,417 Baumgartner July 9, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 446,831 Great Britain May 6, 1936 

